Acworth to Canton
Things to do around Lake Allatoona
What’s coming up in Acworth, Cartersville, Canton, Woodstock and at Red Top Mountain, plus the events that come back every year.
Coming up
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7Nov
Tailgates & Tallboys
Community college football watch party with a big screen, tailgate games, food and drinks, noon to 7 PM.
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7–28Nov
Starry, Starry Night at Red Top Mountain
Ranger-led telescope stargazing and constellation stories, offered Nov 7, Nov 25 and Nov 28.
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7Nov
Tellus Evening Sky Watch
Weather-dependent telescope viewing at the Tellus Observatory on select evenings from November through February; $6 for non-members.
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11Nov
Veterans Day Ceremony (Acworth)
City of Acworth Veterans Day ceremony at lakeside Cauble Park.
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11Nov
Veterans Day Ceremony (Woodstock)
Woodstock Parks and Recreation Veterans Day ceremony; the city notes a new location this year.
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14Nov
Kids Blowgun Program at Etowah Mounds
Hands-on program for kids on the blowgun, a traditional Native American hunting tool, 9 AM to 3 PM.
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18Nov
City of Canton Tree Lighting and Drone Show
Christmas tree lighting with a drone show over Main Street and school choir performances.
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21Nov
Acworth Turkey Chase 5K
17th annual Thanksgiving 5K, 2K walk and kids trot through downtown and along Lake Acworth; bring a canned food item for Tackle Hunger.
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25–28Nov
Battle of Allatoona Pass History Walk
Free ranger-led walk through the Allatoona Pass Civil War battlefield and its forts, offered Nov 25 and Nov 28.
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26Nov
Sunset Turkey Trot Hike
Thanksgiving evening sunset hike led by an interpretive ranger, starting at Iron Hill Trail.
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27–28Nov
Christmas at The Mill
Two-day holiday event with ice skating, Santa, live music and a Christmas tree lighting, 10 AM to 7 PM each day.
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29Nov
Atlatl Throwing at Etowah Mounds
Try throwing darts with an atlatl, the spear-thrower used by early Native Americans, 1 to 3 PM.
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2Dec
Kennesaw Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Choir performance, Christmas tree lighting and hot chocolate in Depot Park, 6 to 7:30 PM.
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3Dec
Cartersville Exchange Club Christmas Parade
Annual Christmas parade leaving the Tabernacle parking lot and running along Church Street and through downtown, same route as last year.
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3–17Dec
Mistletoe on Main Wagon Rides
Free wagon rides through downtown Canton on Thursdays Dec 3, 10 and 17, with live reindeer on Dec 3.
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4Dec
Santa's Arrival and Tree Lighting
Santa arrives in downtown Acworth with live performances, a tree lighting and free photos.
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5Dec
Christmas in Acworth: Santa Photos
Free photos with Santa at Depot Park from 1 to 5 PM; bring your own camera.
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5Dec
Illuminate Holly Days Parade
Kennesaw's first nighttime parade with lighted floats and a Santa's Workshop theme, capping a day of Santa events.
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6Dec
Woodstock Christmas Jubilee & Parade of Lights
Woodstock Parks and Recreation's annual Christmas jubilee and lighted parade; the city has posted the date and route map but not a start time.
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9Dec
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10Dec
Booth Museum Free Family Thursday
Free museum admission from 4 to 8 PM on the second Thursday of each month.
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12Dec
Breakfast with the Grinch
Breakfast with the Grinch followed by themed crafts; registration required.
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12Dec
Christmas in Acworth: Horse & Carriage Rides
Free horse and carriage rides through downtown Acworth from 1 to 5 PM.
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12Dec
Canton Merry Market & Christmas Parade
39th annual holiday market with vendors and Santa from noon to 6 PM, followed by the Canton Christmas Parade at 6 PM.
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12Dec
Tellus Holiday PJ Party
Winter-themed family day with sock-skating, crafts, geode cracking and photos with Santa, included with museum admission.
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13Dec
Glimmer & Glee Drone Show
Holiday drone show over downtown Kennesaw; gathering starts at 6 PM and the show at 7:30 PM.
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16Dec
Light Up Main Golf Cart Parade
Evening parade of decorated golf carts through downtown Acworth; entrants must register.
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19Dec
Polar Express: A Winter Wonderland Festival
Free holiday festival with Santa, a sing-along movie and a holiday market, with ice skating for an added fee.
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29–30Dec
Booth Museum Winter Open Studio
Drop-in holiday art-making for families, 10 AM to 4 PM, free with museum admission.
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13Mar
Canvas & Cocktails at the Booth
Evening event at the Booth Western Art Museum; the museum says more details are coming.
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20Mar
Tellus Symposium 2027: Native Plants, Pollinators and Southern Grasslands
Daylong symposium on native plants, pollinators and grasslands; advance registration required, $50 for non-members.
Details
All year
Red Top Mountain programs
The state park runs ranger programs most months: sunset and full-moon hikes on Iron Hill Trail, stargazing, iron-pour demonstrations at the 1869 Vaughan cabin, and night hikes at the Allatoona Pass battlefield.
The park’s own events calendar has dates and fees; most programs also need a ParkPass.
Around the lake, all year
The regulars. Dates move a little each year, so check with the organizer before you go.
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | First Day Hikes | Red Top Mountain State Park |
| March | Corps campgrounds start opening for the season | Around the lake |
| April | Boat-up season: lakeside restaurants reopen | Little River, Victoria Harbour, Holiday Harbor |
| May 1 | The lake is back at 840 ft summer pool; Acworth Beach opens Memorial Day weekend | Lake-wide; Acworth |
| June | Rockfest at Tellus Science Museum | Cartersville |
| July 4 | Acworth’s Concert and Fireworks, one of metro Atlanta’s biggest shows, best by boat or from Cauble Park | Cauble Park, Acworth |
| Second Thursday, monthly | Family Thursday, free evening admission | Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville |
| Early October | Great Lake Allatoona Clean Up, run by the Lake Allatoona Association | Sites around the lake |
| October 5 | Anniversary of the Battle of Allatoona Pass | Allatoona Pass battlefield |
| Late October | West Fest | Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville |
| November–December | Holiday parades and tree lightings | Acworth, Cartersville, Canton, Woodstock |
Know of something we missed? Email office@wannagrowbrand.com.
Where we look every week
The City of Acworth and Acworth Tourism, Visit Cartersville, Explore Canton, the City of Woodstock, Travel Cobb, Georgia State Parks, the Booth, Tellus and Etowah Mounds, the Lake Allatoona Association, and the marinas. We check every event against the organizer’s own page before it goes on this list.